1141

YEAR 1141

Scribed by Madoc

Spring 1141AD

It is with some worry I approachthis task of writing the journal. My writing skills are not great and it seemsthat others could scribe this tome with more speed. However not wishing toshirk my duties I will struggle on though please forgive my scrawl if youfind it unreadable at times.

We met for council with Turoldstill not returned form his house meeting. As the others seemed not worriedby this prospect I assumed it was normal practice for this magus to be awaya long time at his house meeting. I must find out from the Redcap when myone will be so I can set off in time, as I will travel by land I would hateto miss my first meeting as a magus of the order. Not much was discussed apartfrom my requesting from council, if Vis permitted, that I be allowed to borrow15 pawns of Vim Vis to bind my familiar with as it would delay me considerablyif I first had to extract this Vis.

As our funds were running lowAntonius agreed to venture out south towards Southampton to broaden the marketfor our products.

It was reported that spirits foundat the crossroads near the fells had been found and destroyed. During thediscussion of the fells Ruaridh suggested that Guyere might be a Lich! Afterexplaining to me what this creature was I thought it unlikely but never theless Ruaridh is a Quaesitor and must have met servants of evil before in hislife and his speculations should always be listened too.

Ruaridh announced that he wouldbe creating a spell to sever arcane connections to himself and reading throughthe journal has enlightened me to the threat on his person that this formof attack has put to him in the past.

Audacia was going to read fromthe spell library to learn some minor spells, dust to dust and Onerius' curseI believe. I Went to Blackthorn to Learn Animal from their text, as it isbetter than the one we have in our library, this will mean I will be closetoo unravelling the riddle that is familiar! This will mean I will have tostudy for only a season more afterward, I hope.

Realising that I will be travellingaround these isles a lot I have decided to work on my Parma this year withAudacia testing her low magnitude spell against me to see if she can unlockthe mysteries of penetrating the magical defences of others.

Ruaridh stated that he would befound in the infirmary a lot this year as he wished to learn the art of Chirugy.Antonius has told me that he still is trying to perfect his illusions andimprove his finesse of creating these images.

During the night a few days aftercouncil I was restless and found Antonius in the Library pouring over someold tome, when I asked him what he was reading he announced that it was partof the prodigious text we have on the old religion of Wales.

As I was in Blackthorn for theseason, and no request was made for my presence, the season passed peacefullyfor me and I hope for others as well.

Summer

I went to my house meeting atthe start of this season and was initiated into House Criamon And apart froman incident at the start where the horses bolted and me Aledd and Ryss allended up on the floor it was a peaceful trip of which I will say no more.At the council meeting that occurred the day after I left Turolds absencewas discussed and Audacia claimed to have seen him as he had apparently handedin some Vim Vis in case his trip into the fairy Regio took longer than expected.Ruaridh at his meeting reported that Darius was a diabolist and Antonius statedthat his machinations in the mercantile field were successful. His trip toSouthampton was successful and has doubled our monies from selling our iron.Considering our dangerous position Antonius went abroad to recruit grogs asour numbers have fallen in recent years. Audacia learnt from the Vim bookand Ruaridh learnt some spells. The only incident of note was that when thesteward went for supplies he was attacked by bandits but then rescued by SirMaurice the Fae Knight.

Autumn

This meeting started with me beingquizzed especially by Antonius who wanted to know the entire goings on ofmy house but I managed to deflect most of their rude and inquisitive questions.I skilfully move the meeting on to what happened during my absence and theprevious season's events were described to me for inclusion in this journal.I agreed this season to investigate Swallow Cliff, Audacia stated that shewould scribe some spells of destruction as her covenant service. We then talkedabout the village of stone and how the assault will proceed. I feel that Antoniusis all talk and inside he quakes at any direct action. I set off for SwallowCliff with anticipation, looking forward to an interesting time how littleI knew! During my absence Turold returned from the Faerie Regio and was apparentlysomewhat changed by his experiences in the said place. He apparently had beengiven the gift of stone by Gofannon lord of the mountain and now has a skinlike stone. He is elf touched now and has brought with him a gnome calledClifford and a sylvan bodyguard called Tegwared. My journey to Swallow Cliffgoes easily and we soon arrived at the old fort. I explore the ruins withthe invaluable assistance of my brother. We discovered a secret room and uponfurther investigation, we discovered a wooden chest hidden beneath a stone,some potions and some monies were also discovered.

Winter

After consulting with Antoniusabout how to proceed I went to the council meeting there to discuss some ofmy findings with council. When they started to get a little too inquisitiveabout my discoveries I decided to be evasive in my answering. How ever atthis point Antonius decided to betray my confidences to gain a few pointsin council and I have learnt never to trust this treacherous dog again! Ihad discovered a Special room that was sealed of with magic's and althoughI had not investigated closer I felt that with Antonius's help I could discoverthe truth of the room. However I feared that because of the note that wasdiscovered in the covenant that the Quasitor would scoop the whole place tothemselves and no knowledge would come in to my hands. How right I was foras soon as Ruaridh heard the tale he vowed to inform Serenia of the entiregoings on. But this was not all oh no! Then to my dismay the elder magi startedto bully me for knowledge of whom I had spoken to about the scroll, I refusedto comply to there wishes and was challenged to Certamen twice once by Audaciaand once by Ruaridh to discover whom I had told. Under this duress I admittedto telling my Primus and my Pater. Wizard's war indeed was threatened as Irefused to give freely the information that I considered private. Turold thenwisely I feel called for a break to allow frayed tempers to cool. The nextday however Audacia instantly attacked me verbally and almost physically,I find this far too much and start to declare that I will leave this hellholeof a covenant where they speak of equality but when I have secrets they forcethem from me and when they have secrets they keep them to themselves. Is thisthe fairness that we in the order expect? No! Turold anticipating a backlashfrom the high and mighty Audacia butts in and asks to have my good standingremoved. This vote goes ahead and I am forced to stay against my will in thecovenant. I now realise this was to give Turold time to pour oil on the troubledwaters as he acted as go between. He asked me to convince Audacia that I couldkeep a secret over the matter and I assure him and then her that that is mycredo. Serenia arrives in the morning and as soon as she hears the particularsof the case binds us all to silence and forbids us from going to Swallow Cliffas I expected from the start. The Quasitoris always block the path to knowledge.Then Antonius decides to gain my enmity forever by mentioning to Serenia ina sycophantic voice "what about the mortals". Now by being my Amicus Aleddwas protected however our good friend Rees the bard had no such protectionand Audacia with obvious glee destroyed him with her Perdo magic's after theQuasitor had given the nod. Antonius will regret that decision maybe not soonas my brother wants but one day when he needs my support for something preciousto him he will fall! Reading back in the journal I can now see what a selfserving man he is and it would not surprise me if he caused the death of manymore at this covenant through his evil ways.

The Redcap arrived to tell usthat which we already knew. War bands of the proud Welsh had invaded and gotas far as Gloucester where they were besieging the walls. Stephen had apparentlybeaten Henry in battle and there was a siege at York. A commoner called Paulof Ludlow had summoned peasants to his banner to repel the welsh invasionand was having moderate success. While the King was involved in the northFrance had invaded Normandy in an attempt to annex this important piece ofland. The Hermetic news the redcap passed on was of interest. Cassitus hadgone into final twilight. A request for Audacia and Ruaridh to investigateDarius's sanctum was sent to confirm his diabolism. The redcap reported thatErren had returned but had left Scarfell and joined Lear Valley.

A letter also arrives asking ifthere was a place in our covenant for Elfwin (apprenticed to Blodwyn) to join.

Towards the end of the seasona great fog descends on the Dean but after investigation proves to be of noimport.